Label device



Feb. 19, 1963 J. L. JONES 3,077,683

LABEL DEVICE Filed Sept. 15. 1960f 2 sheets-esheet 1' FIG. I.

FIG. 3

IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 19, 1963 i J. L. JONES 3, ,683

LABELDEVICE Filed Sept. 15. 1960 FIG. 6.

ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. k

3,677,683 LABEL DEVHQCE John Leslie .lones, 107% Glen Ualrs Blvd, Pasadena 2, Calif. Filed Sept. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 56,323 4 Claims. (Cl. id- 2) This invention relates to labels, wherein the information displayed thereon is relatively safe from alteration. The invention is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 733,348, filed May 6, 1958, on pronged paper fasteners which has since become abandoned.

Included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a label combination device whose parts cooperatively provide a writing information surface difficult to alter.

Second, to provide a label combination device simply cooperatively converted into a label device providing written information which is not easily altered.

Third, to provide a label combination device useful for providing written information relatively impervious to destruction by water or other liquids.

Fourth, to provide a label combination device which cooperatively converts to an unalterable written information surface for a pressure sensitive label.

Fifth, to provide a simple means of dispensing a device which cooperatively converts to a relatively unalter-able label combination device.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following description.

Reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged plan view of one of my improvements in label combination devices.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of my label combination device through 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of my label combination device of FIGURES l and 2 modified with information displayed on the label.

FIGURE 4 is another enlarged modification of my improved label combination device.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of my improved label combination device through 55 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan view of my label combination device of FIGURES 4 and 5 modified with in formatiion displayed on the label.

FIGURE 7 is still another modification of my improvement in label combination devices, shown in partially sectional view.

Referring to the illustrative drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2 show one of my improvements in label combination devices in which 2 is a paper base label having rounded corners 9. The paper base label 2 is not heavily calendered or coated with materials and the fibers are not strongly bonded to each other. In fact, the paper stock of the label 2 is such that the fibers on the face shown are easily torn. The pressure sensitive adhesive layer 10 is shown in FIGURE 2, permanently bonded to the paper label 2, completely covering one face thereof.

A coated flexible backing sheet 5, having edges 14, is shown in FIGURES l and 2, said coated flexible backing sheet 5 may be paper, cloth or other flexible film, chemically treated by standard procedures to provide a sheet 31,977,683 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 easily releasable from the adhesive layer 10, by pulling apart. A transparent flexible film 3 of FIGURES l and 2 is shown bonded to the label and adhesive combination, 2 and is, by the transparent pressure sensitive adhesive layer 11. The pressure sensitive adhesive layer 11 completely covers one surface of the transparent film 3. The area 12 shown in FIGURE 1 is shown in sectional view in FIG- URE 2, and represents the area over which the adhesives 10 and ll are co-mingled to provide a contiguous area of adhesive. The area 12 also represents the area over which the transparent flexible film 3 and the paper label 2 are overlapped. The hinge line 6 and the line 8 represent the edges of the overlapping label 2 and the transparent flexible film 3 respectively, forming the area 12.

Another coated flexible backing sheet 4 is shown in FIGURES l and 2, completely covering and coextensive with the transparent pressure sensitive adhesive layer 11 from the transparent film edge 16 to the hinge line 6, and also extending to the right edge of the flexible backing sheet at 7. It should be understood that the transparent film 3 is completely coextensively covered with transparent pressure sensitive adhesive 11 over all of the area of the transparent film 3, from edge 16 to edge 8. As

shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the flexible backing sheet 4 forms a handle area from hinge line 6 to sheet edge 7, for the ready removal of sheet 4.

FIGURE 3 is further illustration of my invention in use, wherein the paper label 2 is adhesively mounted on an application surface 15 and written information 13, printed, rubber stamped, hand written or otherwise visually prepared on the writing surface of the label 2 is shown. The transparent film 3 is shown folded over at the hinge line 6 to cover the paper label 2, the edge 16 of the transparent film 3 coincides with the edge 17 of the paper label 2. The transparent film 3 and the upper face of the paper label 2 are bonded permanently together by the transparent adhesive film 11. The label combination device of FIGURES 1 and 2 is simply applied by placing the desired written information on the upper writing surface of label 2, grasping the handle area of the flexible backing piece 4 extending from 6 to 7 and removing the flexible backing piece 4. The transparent film 3 and the contiguous transparent pressure sensitive adhesive 11 are bent at the hinge 6 and the adhesive 11 permanently bonded over the writing face area of the paper label 2. The area 12, free from adhesive is used as a handle to remove the prepared label from the flexible backing piece 5 and to place the label combination on the application surface 15.

The written information 13 is clearly discernable through the transparent film 3 and the transparent adhesive 11. Any attempt to remove the film 3, to alter the written information destroys the written information 13, as the adhesive 11 tears the surface fibers of the label 2.

Another modification of my improvements in label combination devices is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5. In FIGURE 4 the paper label 22, of a similar type of paper material as paper label 2, is shown with the rounded corners 24. A pressure sensitive adhesive layer 36, not necessarily transparent, completely contiguously covers the under surface of the label 22 and is permanently bonded to the label 22. The adhesive layer 349 is temporarily mounted on the coated flexible backing sheet 29, the backing sheet 20 being chemically treated paper, cloth or the like, providing for the ready removal by pulling of the adhesive and label 22 combination from the sheet 20. The label 22 and adhesive 30 combination extend in width from the edge 25 to the edge 34 of FIGURES 4 and 5. A transparent flexible film 21 and a transparent flexible pressure sensitive adhesive layer 31 are contiguously coextensively bonded over the complete area of the film 21 from the edge 29 to the edge 27. A permanently bonded area 32 is formed by bonding the transparent adhesive 31 to the upper face of the paper label 22, from the left edge 25 of the paper label to the right edge of the permanently bonded area 32 at 26, to form a hinge line 26. The area of the transparent film 21 and adhesive 31 combination, bounded by the left film edge 29 and the left paper label edge 25, are temporarily bonded to the coated flexible backing sheet 20. Another coated flexible backing sheet 23 is temporarily bonded to the transparent flexible adhesive 31 from the hinge line 26 on the left to the edge 27 of the film 21 and adhesive 31 combination, and the backing sheet 23 extends on to its right edge 28, to provide a handle area from 27 to 28, for the ready removal of the backing sheet 23.

Thus in application of the label combination device of FIGURES 4 and 5, the handle area 27-28 of the backing sheet 23 is used to lift the combination of film 21, adhesive 31 and sheet 23 to provide an open writing surface area of paper label 22 suitable for information. As shown in FIGURE 6, written information or instruction 33 is placed on the upper writing surface of label 22. The label combination of film 21, adhesive 31, sheet 23, paper label 22 and adhesive 30, of FIGURE 5, is then stripped from the backing sheet 20 at the adhesive area 29-25 of adhesive 31 and the adhesive layer area 30. Thelabel combination just recited above is then permanently mounted on the application surface 35 using the adhesive layer 31 of the area 29-25 and the adhesive layer area 30. The backing sheet 23 is then removed from the adhesive layer 31 by pulling the handle area 27-28, and the film 21 and adhesive 31 combination of the area 27-34 are bonded to the surface 35. Inthis manner the adhesive layer 31 is also permanently bonded to the application surface 35 and the upper Writing surface of he paper label 22, to provide written information which cannot be altered. The protected information is destroyed if the permanently bonded paper label base 22 and the adhesive layer 31 are separated, as by attempting to strip off the film 21.

A still further modification of my invention is illustrated in FIGURE 7, wherein a plan partial sectional view of another of my label combination devices is shown. The round paper label base is similar in properties to the previously described paper labels 2 and 22. A pressure sensitive adhesive layer 54 permanently covers the lower face of the round label 50, as shown in partial sectional view and a flexible coated backing sheet temporarily covers the face of the adhesive layer 54 not permanently secured to the paper label 50. The backing sheet 55 is larger in diameter than the paper label 50, to provide an annular ring handle area 50-55 for ready removal of the flexible coated backing sheet 55 from the adhesive layer 54. A transparent flexible film 52 is shown, larger in diameter than the paper label 50, and the film 52 is permanently completely contiguously covered on the topmost surface of the film 52 by a transparent pressure sensitive adhesive layer 53. The adhesive layer 53 is permanently bonded to the adhesive layer 54 over the intersecting arcuate sector area 57-58. A second flexible coated backing sheet 51 completely covers the remainder of the adhesive layer 53. The hinge line 56 is the bending line for the label combination device. The two release sheets 51 and 55 are easily removed, by the handle area 57-58 for the release sheet 51, and the annular ring area 50-55 for the paper label 50. The information written on the upper writing surface of the label 50 is protected from alteration by removing the release sheet 55 and mounting the label 50 on the permanent application surface by the adhesive 54. By removing the release sheet 51 by the arcuate sector handle 57-58, the transparent combination of flexible film and pressure sensitive adhesive, 52 and 53 respectively, is folded along the hinge line 56, covering the paper label 50 by the above combination and permanently securing the transparent film 52 to the application surface and label 50 by the adhesive 53. The film 52 cannot be removed from the label 50, to alter the information on the label 50, without destroying the writing surface of label 50 which is permanently secured to the adhesive 53.

Other modifications of my invention are made by modifying the species illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. As for example, the transparent flexible film 3 and the contiguous transparent pressure sensitive adhesive coating 11, fully covering one surface of 3, may be made smaller in width, as from edge 16 to hinge line 6, so that the film and adhesive combination when applied to the paper label surface, as in FIGURE 3, does not fully cover all of the paper label 2 to the edge 17. In other words, the fully applied transparent film and adhesive combination may be smaller in width, measured left to right from the hinge line, than the paper label, or smaller in length measured up and down the hinge line.

Similarly my invention species illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 may be further modified by altering either of the relative sheet dimensions of the paper base label and the transparent film and adhesive combination, which are in cooperation. For example, in one further modification, the transparent film and adhesive combination is made smaller in both width and length, as illustrated by FIG- URE 4, than the paper label. The coated flexible backing sheet, corresponding to 23 is accordingly likewise made smaller in size. The transparent film and adhesive combination corresponding to the section 29-25 may also be entirely eliminated, with the permanently bonded area of transparent film and adhesive with the paper label, corresponding to the area 32 remaining, together with additional transparent film and adhesive combination extending to the right of area 32, less than the distance corresponding to the edge 34 of the paper label base. The vertical height of the transparent film and adhesive combination may be likewise less than the height of the paper label base to which it is attached, where the vertical height of the combination is illustrated by the length of the hinge line 26 of FIGURE 4. The flexible coated backing sheet temporarily attached to the transparent film adhesive combination is dimensioned to provide a backing area covering the adhesive and an additional area for a handle for ready removal of the backing sheet.

In my invention I prefer to use a simple paper base label sheet area, coated on one side with a first pressure sensitive adhesive layer and with a writing surface, suitable for handwriting, hand-stamping or printing on the second side of the label. The paper base label sheet stock is not a heavy calendered or resin treated or coated paper stock, but one rather low in calendering and having an easily destructible surface when contacted with a tacky adhesive film. The important property of the paper label writing surface is that it easily tears, to indicate attempted alteration. On uniformly contacting the writing located on the surface of the label with the combination of transparent flexible film and transparent pressure sensitive adhesive, by uniformly pressing the film-adhesive combination onto the written information surface, the filmadhesive combination can not then be removed from the information surface without visibly altering the information.

The first pressure sensitive adhesive film or layer, secured to the paper label is not necessarily transparent. It may be either transparent, opaque or pigmented, as is desirable.

The transparent film means may be selected from such thin film (0.00025-0.002 inch thick typically) stock as cellophane, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose acetate-butyrate, oriented styrene, polyvinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer (Saran) or the like.

The transparent pressure sensitive adhesive coating contiguously completely covering one side of the transparent film is properly formulated and coated on the transparent film to provide a permanent bond.

The flexible backing sheets used to temporarily coat the two pressure sensitive adhesive areas of the label device, prior to final application, are sheets of paper, cloth, impregnated paper or non-woven fibrous film combinations. The above listed types of sheets are coated with properly formulated products designed to permit the flexible backing pieces to adhere to the tacky pressure sensitive adhesive surfaces, until removed by pulling oif the backing sheets from the adhesive surfaces just before final application of the label device.

Of course the handle area of the label device of FIG- URES l, 2 and 3 described above requires contact of two pressure sensitive adhesives. For purposes of providing a permanently constructed hinge area, it is necessary that the two comingled pressure sensitive adhesives form a permanent, compatible, reasonably strong bond.

The permanently bonded area of the other species of label combination illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 also provides a requirement for a permanent bond area between paper label base and pressure sensitive adhesive, not capable of being destroyed Without visible alteration of the label.

I also propose to formulate the first pressure sensitive adhesive layer covering one surface of the paper label, in order to secure greater adhesion of the paper label to the final application surface. If the application surface is a plastic film container as in many modern forms of packaging of retail store items, it is desirable to formulate the pressure sensitive layer to form a more permanent bond with the plastic film of the container. Thus, the addition of a plasticizer to the pressure sensitive adhesive, which is also soluble in the plastic film, will increase the bond strength of the pressure sensitive adhesive-plastic film combination. Plastic film containers made of cellulose acetate butyrate and vinylchloride-vinyl acetate copolymer may be plasticized by dibutyl phthalate or tri cresyl phosphate. Polyester film containers may be plasticized by benzyl alcohol in the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Obviously I may use my label device for securing free from alteration the price information on retail items for sale. Instructions on the use of items may also be protected by printing the instruction on the paper label and applying the label device to the items. The label device will be very useful in the technical laboratory to protect data on a label from moisture and other solvents.

Obviously many modifications and'variations of my improvements in label combinations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A combination label device comprising: a paper label sheet consisting of an alterable writing side and a second side, said second side completely covered by a first pressure sensitive adhesive coating; a transparent laminate sheet consisting of a transparent film sheet, and

a transparent second pressure sensitive adhesive coating completely covering one side of said film sheet; a single line hinge extending the entire transverse dimension margin portion of said label sheet and extending at least an equal transverse dimension margin portion of said transparent adhesive coating, adhesively bonded to each other and terminating in a single, continuous, straight line, fixed position hinge, the unbonded area portion of said transparent laminate sheet being at least equal in area and arranged to overlie the unbonded area portion of said writing side of said label sheet; and a plurality of release coated flexible backing sheets, each backing sheet release coat coplanar mounted on and completely covering each unbonded area portion of each said first and second pressure sensitive adhesive coatings, said coated backing sheets having free handle area portions providing for their ready removal from said adhesives.

2. A combination label device comprising: a paper label sheet consisting of an alterable writing side and a second side, said second side completely covered by a first pressure sensitive adhesive coating; a transparent laminate sheet consisting of a transparent film sheet, and a second pressure sensitive transparent adhesive coating completely covering one face of said transparent film sheet; a single line hinge extending the entire transverse dimension margin portion of said label sheet and extending at least an equal transverse dimension margin portion of said transparent adhesive coating, adhesively secured together and forming a single, continuous, straight line, fixed position hinge; the area portion of said transparent laminate sheet free from said hinge and the area portion of said label sheet free from said hinge, each being freely rotatable from the single continuous, straight line, fixed position hinge, said free area portion of said transparent laminate sheet being larger in area and arranged to overlie said free area portion of said writing side of label sheet; and two release coated flexible backing sheets, each backing sheet release coat coplanar mounted on and separately completely covering each or" the free area portions of said first and said second pressure sensitive adhesive coatings, said coated backing sheets having free area handle portions.

3. A combination label device comprising: a paper label sheet consisting of an alterable writing side and a second side, said second side completely covered by a first pressure sensitive adhesive layer; a transparent laminate sheet consisting of a transparent film sheet, and a second pressure sensitive transparent adhesive layer completely covering one face of said transparent film sheet; a single line hinge extending the entire transverse dimension margin portion of said first pressure sensitive adhesive layer and extending at least an equal continuous transverse dimension margin portion of said second pressure sensitive transparent adhesive layer and terminating in a single continuous, straight line, fixed position hinge; the remaining free area portion of said label sheet and the remaining free area portion of said transparent laminate sheet each being freely rotatable about said continuous, straight line, fixed position hinge, said remaining free area portion of said transparent laminate sheet being at least equal in area to said remaining free area portion of said label sheet and arranged to overlie said writing side of said label sheet; and two release coated flexible backing sheets, each separate backing sheet release coat coplanar mounted on and completely covering the remaining free area portion of each said first pressure sensitive adhesive layer and each said second pressure sensitive adhesive layer, said backing sheets being coated to provide ready release of said coated backing sheets from said adhesives, and said coated backing sheets having additional handle free area portions.

4. A combination label device comprising: a paper label sheet consisting of an alterable writing side and a second side, said second side completely covered by a first pressure sensitive adhesive layer; a transparent laminate sheet consisting of a transparent film sheet and a second pressure sensitive transparent adhesive layer completely covering one face of said transparent film sheet; a single line hinge consisting of extending the entire trans verse dimension margin portion of said writing side of said label sheet and extending at least an equal transverse dimension margin portion of said second pressure sensitive transparent adhesive layer and terminating in a single, continuous, straight line, fixed position hinge; the remaining free area portion of said label sheet and tive adhesive layers, and each backing sheet having free handle area portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Joffe Mar. 12, 1929 Harris July 6, 1954 Harris Oct. 23, 1956 Heuser Sept. 27, 1960 

4. A COMBINATION LABEL DEVICE COMPRISING: A PAPER LABEL SHEET CONSISTING OF AN ALTERABLE WRITING SIDE AND A SECOND SIDE, SAID SECOND SIDE COMPLETELY COVERED BY A FIRST PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE LAYER; A TRANSPARENT LAMINATE SHEET CONSISTING OF A TRANSPARENT FILM SHEET AND A SECOND PRESSURE SENSITIVE TRANSPARENT ADHESIVE LAYER COMPLETELY COVERING ONE FACE OF SAID TRANSPARENT FILM SHEET; A SINGLE LINE HINGE CONSISTING OF EXTENDING THE ENTIRE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION MARGIN PORTION OF SAID WRITING SIDE OF SAID LABEL SHEET AND EXTENDING AT LEAST AN EQUAL TRANSVERSE DIMENSION MARGIN PORTION OF SAID SECOND PRESSURE SENSITIVE TRANSPARENT ADHESIVE LAYER AND TERMINATING IN A SINGLE, CONTINUOUS, STRAIGHT LINE, FIXED POSITION HINGE; THE REMAINING FREE AREA PORTION OF SAID LABEL SHEET AND THE REMAINING FREE AREA PORTION OF SAID TRANSPARENT LAMINATE SHEET BEING FREELY ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID SINGLE, CONTINOUS, STRAIGHT LINE, FIXED POSITION HINGE, THE REMAINING FREE AREA PORTION OF SAID TRANSPARENT SHEET SINGLE, CONING AT LEAST EQUAL IN AREA TO THE REMAINING FREE AREA PORTION OF SAID WRITING SIDE OF SAID LABEL SHEET AND ARRANGED TO OVERLIE SAID LABEL SHEET AND ARRANGED BACKING SHEETS, EACH SEPARATE BACKING SHEET RELEASE COAT COPLANAR MOUNTED ON AND COMPLETELY COVERING EACH SAID FREE AREA PORTION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE LAYERS, AND EACH BACKING SHEET HAVING FREE HANDLE AREA PORTIONS. 